Shit Happened - 22hrs Data Gone

[Pixie]

Well done Anthony for being realising that you needed to simply walk away from it last night. I'm honestly glad that you did and hope that you got some rest despite your eventful day.

Rell

 

[anni]

Good God you've done everything you possibly can and more! It's a lovely forum, and thank you for it-please do go play. It's really nice to have people dedicated enough ( seriously! ) to provide this place. I hate to think of the responsibility being more than wearing with this tech mystery.

Sometimes computers just suck!

Anni

 

[Lisa]

I wondered where my posts went thought I was losing my mind too LOL!!

Oh Gawd, So sorry Anthony I can only imagine how frustrating that is!!!!

As far as users posts and stuff... you know what? Don't worry about it. We're all still here.

As far as whatever stuff you lost.... Yeah you maybe need a duvet day before you come back, breath, and do it all again!

Take a break, you need and deserve it.

 

[Nicolette]

Anthony still seems to be off the forum....

 

[anthony]

I found out what happened...

I have a software installed on the server called MemCached. Memcached is an in-memory key-value store for small chunks of arbitrary data (strings, objects) from results of database calls, API calls, or page rendering. Basically, it speeds up how the data is produced from the server to the browser.

The problem. The config file that the forum software uses, I then program with the memcached databased to achieve the above. When I installed the test upgrade for combatptsd.org, being a different domain and contained within a completely different area of the server, because memcached was configured in its config file also, memcached became a link between two databases that could never physically have linked otherwise. This is how installing one forum in a test environment overwrote parts of the ptsdforum.org database, thus created the issue.

As I stated, I wasn't performing any type of maintenance or task on this forum, because when I do, I also do a then and there backup to ensure data isn't lost. Basically, a configuration on another domain intertwined itself with this forums database via an independent piece of software installed on the server, hence why I had to revert back to the last days database backup, hence the loss of 22 hrs data.

Basically, to use memcached on two forum residing on the same server, the use of a prefix must be used to uniquely identify each database memcached use so that the software doesn't attempt to intertwine databases again.

I know a lot of that sounds jiberish to many, though atleast I found out. A user on vbulletin called Cellarius actually identified the problem.

 

[amethist]

Thanks for the update Anthony.

At 8.15 am on a Saturday morning that has set me up for shopping very well.

Joking aside, I am glad you found out the cause, as I understand it must have been infuriating for you, trying to work out what happened. No harm done as far as posts go, I am sure members will understand and re write all the lost stuff.

Amethist

 

[canucklady]

Computers are frustrating. But glad you found out what the issue was. Like others here I thought I was imagining things when posts were gone...LOL....so glad I saw this post.

Anthony, thank you for all the work you do on this website. It has helped me alot.

 

[gdf]

It always feels good to solve a mystery. I suppose it's like hunting for that one penny in your checking account you can't find in order to balance the thing...it drives you absolutely nuts until you find it...except it is a thousand times worse when it happens in computer world.

 

[Ladyhope Somerset]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for this thread. It's shown me in real time, when shit happens, how taking time out rather than pushing to achieve an outcome and with supportive suggestions we can get through stuff together. I really appreciate the effort everyone puts into this site.